I often remark that I have done several "best things" in my life. Studying abroad in college, marrying my husband, Lloyd Talbot, becoming a school counselor and now a counselor educator with Fresno Pacific University are just a few of the best things I've ever done.

As a counselor educator, I have been privileged to mentor some of the Central Valley's best and brightest school counselors who are not only leaders in their school communities but also serve as mentors and faculty in our program. In addition, as a counselor educator, I have been able to forge partnerships with other excellent programs on campus.

Our FPU School Counseling program is the only program of its kind in the central San Joaquin Valley, offering special emphasis on the design, implementation and evaluation of comprehensive guidance and counseling programs. The program trains graduates to serve in leadership roles and as agents of change in schools. Equipped with a thorough knowledge and understanding of interventions necessary to assist students in achieving their potential, school counselors utilize specialized skills in counseling, consultation, intervention and leadership.

Why school counseling? Recently, in response to the "far too many" school tragedies, school counselors have testified on Capitol Hill regarding the need for mental health services in our schools. Research has also demonstrated that school counselors can make a difference in the number of students who graduate from high school, apply for financial aid and go to college.

Counselors analyze student data (e.g., attendance, achievement, course taking patterns, discipline referrals, etc.) to design programs that promote success for all students as well as close gaps for significant subgroups of students. Counselors use preventive, developmental and systematic approaches to support teachers, students and families.

Partnerships with three graduate programs, two within the School of Education and one with the Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary, were developed to increase the marketability, flexibility and service goals of our graduates. The longest partnership has been with our School Psychology program. Our dual MA degree program in School Counseling and School Psychology produces a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) professional providing many options for students and school districts. Graduates are equipped with expertise in assessment and intervention in addition to the knowledge and skills to develop and implement comprehensive guidance and counseling programs.

The dual MA in Administrative Services and School Counseling produces the best kind of school administrator -- one that is equipped with knowledge and skills demanded by administrative roles backed by a commitment to ethics and service. This partnership produces graduates who are prepared for leadership and advocacy roles within the school system. A win-win!

Our partnership with the Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary's Marriage Family Therapy (MFT) program has been in the works for a while but was given impetus with the passage of Assembly Bill 114. The bill ended the state mandate on county mental health agencies to provide mental health services to students with disabilities in school settings. With passage of AB 114, it is clear that school districts are solely responsible for ensuring that students with disabilities receive special education and related services -- including some services previously arranged for or provided by county mental health agencies.

Goals of the MFT/PPS partnership will produce professionals who are knowledgeable and skilled in the implementation of developmental school counseling and guidance programs that include mental health wrap-around services for the student population. A PPS professional with MFT license will enable schools to provide services for their students without having to contract out. How cool is that?

If you have a heart to serve, you will love learning about our programs. I encourage all who are reading this today, whose disposition is to serve others in school settings, to come and see what we're about. Tell a loved one or friend as well.